Subway Co-Founder Dies at 67

Subway co-founder and Connecticut native Fred DeLuca has died of leukemia at the age of 67, Subway announced today.

Since his diagnosis in 2013, DeLuca had been overseeing the brand as CEO but recently named his sister Suzanne Greco president to run day-to-day operations.

DeLuca co-founded the chain restaurant along with Dr. Peter Buck, when he was just 17. The first submarine shop called “Pete’s Submarines” opened in Bridgeport in 1965. By 1974, the duo was operating 16 locations across the state and began franchising. Today, Subway is the world’s largest submarine sandwich chain with more than 40,000 locations across the world, surpassing the number of McDonald’s.

He leaves behind his wife, sister, extended family and the thousands of team members that make up Subway.

Subway had gained media attention in recent months after former spokesman Jared Fogle pleaded guilty to child pornography charges.